The trustees of a charity-run nursery have spoken of their 'heartbreaking' decision to close at the end of the month with the loss of 18 jobs.

Parents have expressed their shock and sadness following the revelation that the Minster Day Nursery is shutting after 30 years.

Trustees say it is due to increasing costs and falling income which has made the operation of the business unviable.

The nursery opened in 1991 and has become an integral part of the village, providing childcare and pre-school children with early education and play, as well as a holiday club.

Based next to Minster Primary School, the nursery has also been vital for working parents from the village and surrounding area.

Many, including staff, have posted on social media of their shock and sadness at its imminent closure.

Writing on the Marvellous Minster Facebook, parent Emma Jones said: "It’s absolutely gutting. Both of my girls are settled there (nursery and out of school club) and we’re still in shock."

"I can't fault the staff, they are amazing, fantastic and so kind and caring," adds Karen Murphy.

"They have been a solid rock over the last year and half for my daughter, granddaughter and me."

And Jackie Beale wrote: "So very sad as it has been such an important part of the village for so long."

Paul McCarthy, who is Head of School of Minster Primary which has worked closely with the nursery for decades said the closure had also come as a "big shock".

"It affects us in several ways because the nursery acts as a pre-school and after school club for our families.

"It is obviously very sad for the staff and parents and we are doing all we can to help."

In its latest accounts to the Charity Commission, trustees wrote of a "positive but cash-tight" position.

And nursery manager Dawn Todd wrote optimistically of her plans for broadening the nursery provision and out-of-school activities - and also hoped to encourage local businesses to support improvements.

But yesterday the trustees released a statement revealing the closure on September 30 is for financial reasons.

They say: "Since Covid, the number of children in both the nursery and the out of school club has decreased,

despite much advertising and PR work, we have struggled to get the numbers back up to what they

were prior to the two lock downs.

"It is heart-breaking for us all to be in this situation...."

"With the rise in bills and the cost-of-living increases, combined with the decrease in income that we

have tried to combat over the last few months; but we have reached the end of the road.

"We are unable to financially continue with the nursery as charity. Despite the best efforts of the staff and

the management team, we have been left with no option but to close the doors to avoid accruing

any further debt.

"The support and kind words that we have received since the original notification was sent to parents

has been overwhelming."

Manager, Dawn Todd says: “The staff have worked tirelessly to make a success of the nursery, and as you can imagine, it is heart-breaking for us all to be in this situation.”

Chair of the Board of Trustees, Tamsin McCann added: "We are continuing to explore options to find someone to take the nursery on as business, as there is still a need for a nursery setting in the area."